Ice skates



Patented Dec. 21, 1937- w UNITED STATES r Ts-N orifice I 2,102,916 a r c ICE SKATES Michael J. Rochfo'rd, Chicago, Ill. ApplicationMarch 27, 1936, Serial No. 71,274

4 Claims. (o1. asp-11.38

My invention relates to ice skates, and more particularly to attachments therefor, and my main object is to provide a tread or ground attachment which-will enable a person to walk on the ground without discomfort while wearing the skates. J

A further object of the invention is to so design the novel attachment that it readilyfits ice skates of conventional design and maybe put on or taken off withjease. V

A still further object of the invention is to construct the attachment with clampssuitable for engaging the skate runner and firmly securing the attachment thereto.

Another object of the invention attachment with tread units which are both ample for purposes of supportand permit smooth walking movements. 7

An important object of the invention is to design the same along lines of simplicity and durability, whereby to be inexpensive to manufacture and stand hard usage.

With the above objects in view, andany others which may suggest themselves from the description which follows, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a conventional ice skate of the shoe type, showing the novel attachment in place;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the attachment;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of the attachment, showing a clamp in open position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on the line 44 of Figure 1 showing the clamp aforesaid in closed position; and

Figure 5 is a section .on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. I

When going skating, it is customary to carry the skates along to the rink or other skating place, and then to carry the shoes around or store them while the skates are being worn or used.

When the skating is over, the skates must be removed and the shoes again put on in order that the wearer may walk or ride home. I have therefore devised the present improvement to make the wearing of shoes unnecessary when going to or returning from the skating place, so that the bother of taking off and putting on the shoes and their handling or storage are eliminated.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates a conventional ice skate at [0, the more popular type thereof including a shoe l I. The skate runner is indicated is to build the at l2, and the longitudinal reinforcing crown thereof at I3.

The novel attachment is designed with two units, front and rear, and a connection therebetween. Thus, the. front 'unit is a tread M of leather or suitable composition and is extended in width to the, approximate expanse of. a shoe sole. The rear unit l5 is also a tread like block of'leather or suitablecomposition, but considerably smaller, than the unit l4, conforming to the size of a heel. Both .units are preferably oval in contour in order to present asmooth. outline and afford easy progressn Also, thefront .unit

I4 is convexed on the bottom between its ends to simulate the curvature of a shoe sole and 515 permit smoother progress in walking.

The units are joined by a pair of metal plates l laand I5a, the. plate 14a being channeled at Mb to slidably receive the plate H511 and being perforated in a number of places as indicated at M0 to permit a terminal hook 151) of the plate l5a to pass, whereby to adjust the spacing of the units l4 and I5 in accordance with the length of the skate. While the coupling of the plates Ma and 15a may appear somewhat depressed in Fig. 1, the material in actual size is so thin as to make the coupling substantially even. The particular mode of adjustment is purely typical, and it is possible that the plates Ma and [5a could be longitudinally adjusted in other ways. These plates are overlaid with leather tops l6 and I1, and the assembly of the tops with the plates and treads secured by nails Ila, rivets or other suitable means.

In order that the attachment may be readily applicable to the skate, a special style of clamp is made for the tread units, the clamps for both units being identical. In describing one of the clamps it is noted that the tread plate receives a pair of standard plates I8 and I9 having outturned base flanges I 8a and 19a secured under the tread top. The upper end of the standard plate I8 is rolled with hinge ears 20 to which is pivotally connected a hook-shaped hasp 21. The formation of the hasp is part-circular, and its free end has an outward lip 22; the said outer end also'has a cross-slot 23.

The standard plate I!) is formed at the top with an outward and deflected flange 24 which is perforated at 24a to receive a pin 25 from underneath, the pin having a head 2541 which is re pin is made with a flat finger knob 25c. The eccentric formation 25b is laterally of the finger knob; and the latter is somewhat curved in a vertical direction.

When the hasp 2| is open as indicated in Figure 3, the tread unit may be applied to the skate runner in a manner to receive the same between the standard plates I8 and I9. The crown 13 of the runner is now opposite the opening in the hasp, and the latter, being made of spring metal, may be drawn over by applying a finger to the lip 22 to close on the crown as indicated in Figure 4. During this action, the knob 250 of the pin 25 receives and projects from the slot 23 of the hasp. Now, a quarter-turn of the knob to the position shown in Figure 4 will crowd the eccentric portion 25b of the pin outwardly, to draw on the hasp and tightly secure the same to the crown l3 so that the clamp so formed securely engages the runner and firmly attaches the tread unit thereto.

The above operation is simple and may be quickly attended to after one has put on the skates and is ready to leave for the skating place. When the latter has been reached, the two attachments, one for each shoe, are removed and preferably put into a light bag or sack, which may be tied over the skaters shoulder or strapped to the belt. When so carried, the pair of attachments is not a hindrance, since they are light and occupy a small space. Yet, when skating is over, the attachments are readily applicable to enable the wearer to proceed home without delay.

It will be evident that the novel attachment is both an article of utility and convenience, saving time and effort. Also, it is of a nature to be simply and sturdily designed, so as to be manto one of the divisions and looped over the runner, the free end of the hasp having a transverse opening, said clamping means comp-rising a key carried by said other division and passing through the opening, and a flat head for the key and -rotatable to extend crosswise of the slot and lock the hasp from departure.

3. The structure of claim 2, and an eccentric enlargement of the key in the zone of its passage through the slot, such enlargement crowding the free end of the hasp outward when the key head is turned to said crosswise position.

4. An attachment for ice skates comprising longitudinally-spaced ground tread units under the skate runner embodying top and bottom nonmetallic sections grouped with metallic intermediate sections, co-operative extensions of the latter adjustable to vary the longitudinal spacing of said units, standard plates receiving the skate runner between them and with outward bases resting on said intermediate sections, said top sections being perforated for the passage of the standard plates, means to fasten the latter to the skate runner, and means to secure said group of sections together.

MICHAEL J. ROCHFORD. 

